The wrestling star had surgery in 2000 to relieve chronic pain in his neck, arms and legs. During the procedure, which took nearly three hours, surgeons removed bone spurs, or abnormal growths, from vertebrae in his neck.

Photo: TOM BUCHANAN, AP

The wrestling star had surgery in 2000 to relieve chronic pain in...

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Austin's ex-wife, Debra Gale Williams, also a wrestling personality, accused him of hitting her several times after an argument.

Photo: BOB OWEN, AP

Austin's ex-wife, Debra Gale Williams, also a wrestling...

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He plead no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge for hitting his wife in 2002, in San Antonio.

Photo: ERIC GAY, AP

He plead no contest to a misdemeanor assault charge for hitting his...

Austin, also known as the Texas Rattlesnake, gained international recognition during the 1990s as a beer-drinking, rugged Southerner in the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment. Austin won more than 20 professional wrestling titles in his career before retiring because of neck injuries in 2003.

Austin was born in Victoria and played football on a scholarship at the University of North Texas. He has appeared in six feature films, including “The Longest Yard” and “Grown Ups 2.”